Caledonia Pipe Band- what tartan

[sailortats]

I was walking through the Haight/Ashbury section of town today wearing my Stewart old sett modern kilt,pale blue shirt with red vest. A young man came running out of one of the stores on Haight street and grabbed me by the shoulder. This store sells used vintage clothing as do most of the store on Haight St. He said that they had just gotten a kilt in the store and thought that I might be interested in seeing it. How right he was. It is a beautifully made kilt pleated to the alternating red and white overstripes. Very heavy, I would guess 18oz and 27" in length. It has only 2 belts, one of each side that need to be replaced and 2 small holes in the apron. Inside on the white cotton lining(?) in ink it says Caledonia pipe band. But it doesn't say which Caledonia ppipe band. I wasn't able to try it on today but will be going back later this week to do that. However, I am not sure which tartan it is. Here is a pic of the Rochester Caledonia pipe band and this would appear to be the tartan. In other pics of this band I note that their kilts are pleated to the sett whereas the one I am looking at is pleated to the stripes.

[Downunder Kilt]

Sailortats, I'd be betting it's the Mackenzie tartan.

[figheadair]

Sailortats, I'd be betting it's the Mackenzie tartan.

I don't think so. The picture's not that clear but it's obvious that there is a red(?) stripe on every blue(?) square in the tartan pictured whereas MAcKenzie has a red stripe on every alternate blue.

[MacGumerait]

Sailortats , the official tartan of Rochester Caledonian Pipe Band is "MacDonald of the Isles Modern Hunting".



Although the blue in their tartan from your picture appears to have a more purple hue , probably just the pictures , or perhaps the mill that made the tartan .

Best , Mike

[OC Richard]

Yes I used to wear that MacDonald Hunting, very similar to MacKenzie at first glance.

Odd that they would alternate pleats white stripe/red stripe... they don't do that in the British army kilts, though they do do it with the Hunting Stewart kilts in the Canadian army, due to the huge sett size I suppose. Those Caledonian Pipe Band kilts don't appear to be of such a huge sett size to require alternating pleating.

Here I am wearing that tartan c1980 with ex-MOD Seaforth Highlanders full tartan hose

[eagle43172]

Here I am wearing that tartan c1980 with ex-MOD Seaforth Highlanders full tartan hose

[/QUOTE]

Nice photo Richard. To be more precise, the date is December 22, 1979. (That is my wedding date, where you piped at the mass and reception. Those still around who attended still have nice comments about the piper!). We just celebrated 33 years. Thanks for the sendoff.

[OC Richard]

Hey Dave congrats! I edited the photo to protect the innocent... Hope you don't mind! It's the only colour photo I have of that MacDonald kilt that my grandmother made for me.

BTW my 25th is less than a week from now!

[sailortats]

I am still looking at that used pipe band kilt. It had 2 brown leather belts that have both rotted through and brass buckles. I would replace these with like pieces. My question now is, if the kilt belt leather is brown should the sporran and belt also be brown leather?

[Chas]

I am still looking at that used pipe band kilt. It had 2 brown leather belts that have both rotted through and brass buckles. I would replace these with like pieces. My question now is, if the kilt belt leather is brown should the sporran and belt also be brown leather?

Won't the belt cover the existing straps? No one would know what colour they were.

Regards

Chas

[freddie]

As you say it's pleated differently, and there's no proof that it is the same pipe band, allied to the fact that the cloth is regimental weight, it may well be a Mackenzie tartan kilt. Any chance of posting a picture of it?
As Chas says, your belt would cover the kilt straps, so it wouldn't matter what color leathers you choose. However if your going to replace them anyway does it matter?
Sounds like a great find and I hope it fits you.